Celebrating 50 Years at Cow Camp!
- 1973 to 2023 -
Honoring 50 years of Cow Camp adventures, it’s the perfect time to start Phase 2 of the Cow Camp restoration.
We’ve installed a new roof, but the barn is still open to the weather.
We need to add windows and doors to make things snug before the snow falls.
Downstairs it’s time to finish restoring the foundation and install the rest of the floor. Having a floor downstairs will create an indoor gathering area, perfect for rainy days at Cow Camp.
Your donation today will help finish the process of saving the barn!
Cow Camp is a Backcountry Homestead between Loveland and Estes Park
The homestead and 960 acres of foothills forest and meadows were recently donated to Heart-J Center by Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch. Check out the map of the donation area and a timeline of Cow Camp’s history at the bottom of this page.
Fall 2023 Cow Camp Tours
Would you like to see the Cow Camp restoration in person? Heart-J Center is offering tours of Cow Camp this fall. Sign up using the button to the right and we’ll get in touch with details. Fall is a wonderful time for a visit to Cow Camp!
Phase 1 - Complete!
Thanks to generous donors, Heart-J Center was able to team up with the National Center for Craftsmanship to save the historic barn at Cow Camp.
NEW ROOF
For years, the roof was open to the weather, causing water damage to the loft. The barn is now better protected from the weather.
BRACING and STRUCTURAL SUPPORT
Once we got started with the work, we learned that the walls were buckling. Our team of craftsmen installed beams and supports to strengthen the structure to withstand another 100 years.
SLEEPING LOFT
The sleeping loft, which had been rotted through and unusable for years, has been completely reframed with a solid new floor, railings, and a staircase. Overnight guests are loving the experience of sleeping in the new loft.
IMPROVEMENTS FOR HORSE CARE
Thanks to the generous support of Sylvan Dale’s Adventure Riders, we’ve also installed new fencing, created a dedicated camping spot for wranglers, we’re reworking the tack shed, and are developing new spaces for the horses to graze overnight.
In addition to the remaining work on the barn, it’s time to rebuild the outdoor kitchen! Your support of this project will honor longtime camp cook, Dave Armstrong, whose perfect steaks and cheesy eggs top the lists of many guest’s favorite Cow Camp memories.
The restoration will save Cow Camp’s historic homestead and will provide an incredible location for Heart-J Center programs and retreats:
Sylvan Dale’s Weekly Horse Pack Trips
Youth Program Overnights
Veteran & First Responder Retreats
Leadership Development Programs
Corporate & Organizational Training
Health & Wellness Retreats
Backcountry/Wilderness Skills
Scientific Research
Timeline of Cow Camp and Sylvan Dale Backcountry History
Sylvan Dale’s backcountry lands consist of 1,200 acres of forest and meadows halfway between Loveland and Estes Park. This is a truly wild landscape, providing relatively undisturbed wildlife habitat.
The parcels shown in orange on the map are protected by conservation easements held by Larimer County and Colorado Open Lands. These parcels were donated to Heart-J Center by Sylvan Dale Ranch in December 2021. The Ranch retains the westernmost parcel which will be donated to Heart-J Center in the future.
